For me,
Rise was an unexpected triumph as Andy Serkis, five star acting and interesting story captivated.
Let's not get into Charlton Heston, or the Mark Wahlberg flick...
Let's not get into Charlton Heston, or the Mark Wahlberg flick...
Rupert
Wyatt steps aside for Matt Reeves, responsible for shaky camera favourite
Cloverfield and Let Me In, the appreciable US remake of Swedish horror Let the
Right One In.
Plot
details and/or spoilers will swing from tree to tree.
Those settling unfinished
monkey business include:
Andy Serkis
– Caesar
Toby
Kebbell – Koba
Jason
Clarke – Malcolm
Gary Oldman
– Dreyfus
Keri
Russell – Ellie
Kirk
Acevedo – Carver
The Simian
Flu virus has practically decimated the human civilization and only a clutch of
genetically immune survivors remain.
10 years
later, Caesar has set up shop and leads a new generation of apes.
Apart from
the odd bear necessity, things are going swimmingly until Blue Eyes and Ash
(Caesar’s and Rocket’s son respectively), encounter a human called Carver
trespassing. He subsequently panics and
shoots Ash.
Caesar arrives
but instead of retaliating, orders Carver and his party (led by Malcolm), to
“GO”.
The other
half live in a closely guarded tower in the remains of San Francisco .
Remember
Koba?
What a
handsome dude.
Anyway, he
convinces Caesar to pay them a little visit.
HUMAN
HOME! APE HOME!
It’s like…
Leave us be
and we won’t attack but if not, your bollocks and lady bits will hang from the nearest tree.
I think
that’s fair. Or maybe he’s being obtuse?
Dreyfus
agrees for Malcolm to ignore the ultimatum and hopes that Caesar will
listen to reason as repairing a hydroelectric dam should power San Francisco .
Malcolm enters enemy territory but is predictably caught and
brought to Caesar.
Permission is granted on the condition that all weapons are
surrendered.
Heigh-ho,
heigh-ho. It’s home from work they go.
Ellie and
the others gradually create a bond but when Caesar’s cute offspring
inadvertently discovers a concealed shotgun in a toolbox, trust is destroyed quicker than crushed polystyrene.
Despite this, Ellie persuades Caesar to allow her to treat his sick wife Cornelia with
antibiotics and their stay is extended.
Koba takes
some friends and discovers an armoury that is far from a museum exhibit.
He escapes
a pair of guards by playing the fool.
Back at
Donkey Kong Country, Koba confronts and taunts boss man over his love for humans
but is battered into submission when emotions run high.
His life is
spared as ape not kill ape.
Koba
returns to the armoury and kills the men he initially tricked with an assault
rifle.
Carver’s
life is also extinguished and 'acquiring' his lighter, the camp is warmed up.
Unbeknownst
to anybody, Koba and Caesar establish eye contact and the Alpha male is shot.
Let's hope he falls on something soft...
Let's hope he falls on something soft...
The blame
is naturally placed elsewhere so it’s time for Malcolm's party to get the fuck
out of dodge.
Mass panic
ensues and the war against humans officially begins.
Despite numerous casualties of war, Koba’s army force entry
to the armoury and tool up.
Ash is
ordered to kill a human but refuses.
This proves fatal as Koba throws him off a ledge.
Koba declares that any friend of Caesar is an enemy so those still loyal are imprisoned.
Koba declares that any friend of Caesar is an enemy so those still loyal are imprisoned.
Caesar is
found by Malcolm who doesn't look too fighting fit. Ellie begins operating upon the wounded and because of Koba’s betrayal, the horrible realisation that his kind aren't infallible brings despair.
By now, the dam is repaired and San Francisco is seen in a whole new light.
Blue Eyes ensures those doing time are given early parole and they reach the tower’s summit. Dreyfus informs Malcolm that help is on the way from another military base.
Blue Eyes ensures those doing time are given early parole and they reach the tower’s summit. Dreyfus informs Malcolm that help is on the way from another military base.
Koba and
Caesar resume action and this time, the battle is less one-sided.
Meanwhile, Dreyfus detonates the tower loaded with C4.
This causes a little unrest up above but no matter, Koba is left hanging on for his despicable life.
This causes a little unrest up above but no matter, Koba is left hanging on for his despicable life.
In desperation, the same spiel is given as before but as Caesar no longer considers him an ape, he lets him plunge to his death.
When you
think back of what he did to poor Ash - what a fucking hypocrite, right?
With the news of imminent reinforcements, Caesar is despondent as the opportunity for peace has been and gone.
With the news of imminent reinforcements, Caesar is despondent as the opportunity for peace has been and gone.
Caesar
greets his garrison and awaits the final battle.
We don't see a post-credits scene, but as text reaches a climax, the sound
of apes and ‘somebody’ sifting through rubble is heard.
Could it be
that Koba somehow survived?
Ambiguous? Yes. Stupid? Probably.
I’d
describe this as entertaining, but fails to emulate the original.
The story
flows with gusto, but I just think something more could've been done instead of the emphasis on 'ape against ape’.
Performance capture remains superb and because the digital effects are so convincing, you may forget
that humans hide beneath CGI wizardry.
It’s also
intelligent for subtitles to dominate actual speak and as a bonus point, sentences are sensibly ‘broken’.
During Koba’s
first encounter with the human pair he goes on to murder, one labels him a stupid ‘monkey’.
Urgent news flash script writers - we’re dealing with apes, not bastard monkeys.
Was it done
on purpose? I’m far from convinced…
We've had
Rise and Dawn so where on earth do these apes go next?
Providing ‘Day’
is avoided like a zombie apocalypse, George A. Romero may resist sniggering.
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